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By A. B. Parsons

LAST YEAR (1934) saw the completion of a ten-year program of reconstruction and modernization of the world's largest lead- smelting plant, that of the ' Broken Hill Associated Smelters Proprietary, at Port Pirie, South Australia, which has a capacity for smelting and refining 220,000 (short) tons of lead per year. It deals with the entire output of lead concentrates from the famous Broken Hill district in Australia, being owned .jointly by the three leading companies: North Broken Hill, Broken Hill South, and the Zinc Corporation. These companies, together with the Sulphide Corporation, are credited with a production of 198,000 tons of lead in 1934. When one says regarding any metallurgical plant that modernization is "completed" he should add "for the moment." Development in the art of metallurgy and in the equipment used never ceases; that which seems close to the last word today is likely to be obsolete in a few years even in a process so well standardized as smelting and refining lead. However, the reconstruction at Port Pirie has altered the procedure materially. More im-

Jan 1, 1935

By E. J. Eisenach, Edward Matsen

AT the present time the Climax Molybdenum Co. is the largest molybdenum producer in the world and the operator of the largest underground mine in North America. It has grown steadily and rapidly since its beginning in 1917. Only 250,000 lb of MoS2 were produced during the first year from 1917 to 1918 when the company was formed. Operations were suspended shortly thereafter because of the lack of a market and knowledge of the uses of molybdenum. During World War I it was used as a substitute for some rare metals and for minor chemical purposes. After 5 years of intensive research and sales promotion, Climax metallurgists succeeded in finding proper applications for the newly discovered metal and the mine was reopened in 1924. Demand for molybdenum increased gradually and in 1930, 3.5 million lb of MoS2 were produced. In the meantime, research work for additional uses of molybdenum continued until it had established itself as one of the most important alloying elements in producing high quality steels. After the start of World War 11, from January 1942 to October 1953, 43 million tons of molybdenum ore were mined and 484 million lb of MoS2 were produced. Climax mine is located in Colorado, 100 miles southwest of Denver and 12 miles northeast of Leadville on the Continental Divide of the Rocky Mountains. The principal mine workings range from 11,170 to 12,000 ft in elevation. Topographically, it lies in the base of a large cirque that is surrounded by Mt. Bartlett to the north, Clinton Peak and McNamee Peak to the east and Ceresco Ridge to the south. This cirque opens to the west and to the Ten Mile Valley.

Jan 3, 1954

By T. Sterry Hunt

THERE are about sixty bodies which chemists call elements ; the simplest forms of matter which they have been able to extract from the rocky crust of our earth, its waters, and its atmosphere. These substances are distributed in very unequal quantities, and in very different manners. As regards the frequency of these elements in nature, neglecting for the present those which constitute air and water, and confining ourselves to the solid matters of the earth's crust, there are a few which are exceedingly abundant, making up nine-tenths, if not ninety-five hundredths, of the rocks so far as known to us. The elements of which silica, alumina, lime, magnesia, potash, and soda are oxides, are very common, and occur almost everywhere. There are others which are much rarer, being found in comparatively small quantities. Many of these rarer elements are, however, of great importance in the economy of nature. Such are the common metals and other substances used in the arts, which occur in nature in quantities relatively very minute, but which have been collected by various agencies, and thus made available for the wants of man. It is chiefly of the well-known metals, iron, copper, silver, and gold, that I propose to speak to-night; but there are two other elements not classed among the metals, which I shall notice for the reason that their history is extremely important, and will, moreover, enable us to comprehend more clearly some points in that of the metals themselves. I speak of phosphorus and iodine. You all know the essential part which the former of these, com- * An address before the Polytechnic Association of the American Institute, during the meeting of the American Institute of Mining Engineers in New York. Printed in this volume by request of many members.

Jan 1, 1873

Jan 1, 1926

COLUMBIA SECTION STANLY A. EASTON, Chairman, FREDERIC KEFFER, Vice-Chairman, L. K. ARMSTRONG, Secretary-Treasurer, P. 0. Drawer 2154, Spokane, Wash. D. C. LIVINGSTON FRANK A. Ross The first meeting of the Columbia Section was held on March 24, as a part of the 1916 Northwest Mining Convention which was held under the -auspices of the Spokane Mining Men's Club assisted by the Spokane Chamber of Commerce, the technical program being in charge of the Spokane Engineering and Technical Association assisted by the local sections of the A. I. E. E., A. S. C. E., and A. I. M. E. The program of the successive sessions was carefully arranged with view to its application to mining, and in addition to the technical program there were exhibits of ores, minerals, devices, etc., of interest to the delegates, who numbered over 500. A portion of the program was also arranged with special reference to the requirements of the prospector and miner. A reception, a banquet, a complimentary luncheon, a regular daily call' of the Stock Exchange, a visit to the High Schools and to one of the substations of the Washington Water Power Company and to the Union Iron Works kept the visitors entertained, the ladies being looked after by a special committee of ladies who held open house during the entire week. Several important resolutions were passed by the Convention and one by the Columbia Section, A. 1. M. E. With Stanly A. Easton, chairman, presiding, the Columbia Section, American Institute of Mining Engineers, occupied the time between 2.00 and 5.30 p.m., March 24th, the Moorish room of the Spokane hotel being filled with members and their guests. "The Apex Law and the Mineral Surveyor" was a paper presented by F. W. Callaway and generally dis-cussed because of its local application in the Coeur d'Alenes, the conclusions being reached after expensive litigation between two of the large mining operators in that district.

Jan 6, 1916

By AIME AIME

HONORARY COMMITTEE. HON. C. D. WALCOTT (Chairman.), Director U. S. Geological Surrey. HON. FREDERICK I. ALLEN, Commissioner of Patents. DR. FRANK BAKER, Superintendent National Zoological Park. MR. CHARLES A. BELL, President American Security and Trust Co. MAJOR JOHN BIDDLE, Engineer Commissioner of District of Columbia. ADMIRAL C. M. CHESTER, Superintendent U.S. Naval Observatory. GENERAL WILLIAM CROZIER, Chief of Ordnance, U. S. A. ADMIRAL GEORGE DEWEY, Admiral of the Navy. COLONEL CLARENCE R. EDWARDS, Chief Bureau. of Insular Affairs. MR. WILLIAM C. FOX, Director Bureau of American Republics. MR. CHARLES C. GLOVER, President The Riggs National Bank. GENERAL A. W. GREELY, Chief Signal Officer, U. S. A. MR. BERNARD R. GREEN, Superintendent Library Building. GEN. G. H. HARRIES, Vice-President Washington Electric Railway Co. HON. E. A. HITCHCOCK, Secretary of the Interior. COMMANDER H. M. HODGES, Chief Hydrographer, U. S. N. PROF. W. H. HOLMES, Chief Bureau of American. Ethnology. PROF. S. P. LANGLEY, Secretary Smithsonian Institution. GENERAL ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. ADMIRAL N. E. MASON, Chief Bureau of Ordnance, U. S. HON. WM. M. MEREDITH, Director Bureau of Engraving and Printing. HON. V. H. METCALF, Secretary Department of Commerce and Labor. HON. WILLIS L. MOORE, Chief -U. S. Weather Bureau. HON. PAUL MORTON, Secretary of the Navy. MR. F. H. NEWELL, Chief Reclamation Service, U. S. Geological Survey. HON. S. N. D. NORTH, Director Census Office. CAPT. E. C. PENDLETON, Superintendent Naval Gun Factory. MR. GIFFORD PINCHOT, Chief Forester, Department of Agriculture. MR. HERBERT PUTNAM, Librarian of Congress. ADMIRAL CHAS. W. RAE, Chief Bureau of Steam Engineering, U. S. A: MR. RICHARD RATHBUN, Assistant Secretary Smithsonian. Institution. HON. W. T. RICHARDS, Commissioner General Land Office.

Jul 1, 1905

COLUMBIA SECTION J. C. HAAS, Chairman W. J. HALL,. Vice-chairman LYNDON K. ARMSTRONG, Secretary-Treasurer, 720 Peyton Bldg., Spokane, Wash. W. H. LINNEY J. F. MCCARTHY At a meeting of the members of Columbia Section, which was held in the Davenport hotel, Spokane, Wash., Jan. 31, 1919, at noon, there were present' about twenty members and guests. The chairman being absent, Mr. Frederick Keffer presided. The Secretary announced the personnel of the executive committee of the section, which is: J. C. Hass, Spokane, Chairman; W. J. Hall, Wallace, Ida., Vice-chairman; S. S. Fowler, Riondel, B. C., Past Chairman; L. K. Armstrong, Spokane, Secretary-Treasurer; R. M. Betts, Cornucopia, Oregon. It was stated that the geological survey and report on Stevens Co., Wash., has been completed and will be printed soon. The geologic survey of Colville Indian reservation, by J. T. Pardee, U. S. G. S., has been published as Bulletin No. 677 and is available for distribution, The Miner's Almanac, Miners Circular No. 24, U. S. Bureau of Mines. is also available upon request. There was considerable discussion on the program for meetings during the year. It was informally agreed that, if agreeable to Coeur d' Alene members, that one meeting should be held in that district, preferably at the time of the annual visit of Institute officials. It was also proposed to hold at least one open-air meeting in Spokane with suitable program. The activities of other sections were noted with favorable comment. In this connection there was much general discussion on the subject of closer relations between the national engineering societies. It was agreed that cooperation was desirable and imperative if the greatest measure of value be realized from the profession. It was not the sense of the members, however, that complete amalgamation is desirable. This expression of local sentiment is to be presented to the Institute

Jan 3, 1919

By John W. Buch

IN my review a year ago I pointed out that a small coal-mining companies as well as large had decided that the so called ?central shop? was a benefit. These central shops replaced in a large measure the commercial shops operated by those who have no direct connection with production of cod. Central shops in this time of salvage and major repairs have proved their worth. In addition, many of the larger companies had in their central shops equipment available for the production of many thousands of parts for our vast war machine and, as subcontractors, are doing this type of work. This is a real contribution to the war endeavor. Lack of new supplies has resulted in exhaustion of those stocks formerly stored or hidden in underground shanties. This means that the small stock of repair parts likely LO be available to any mine

Jan 1, 1943

By J. F. Myers

AT the Regional meeting in Columbus, Ohio, in September 1949, the authors presented a progress report of the first year's operation with a Hardinge tricone mill in closed circuit with a Dorr hydroscillator. The present report covers our findings on this grinding circuit to January, 1950. In order to clarify our position, the authors wish to state that no invention or discovery is claimed. The Tennessee grinding circuit is simply an engineered arrangement of known equipment arranged to incorporate all of the recognized efficiency factors of comminution as they are known today. As we concluded our first report, it was not clear how effective the Tennessee mode of operation would be on harder ores. The only information we had at that time was that the Bond grindability test at 48-mesh gave 6.04 g of undersize per revolution. A later test on the same sample at 100-mesh reduced this to 2.04 g, which is definitely in the harder ore class, and which makes the reported 8.80 kw-hr per ton of -200-mesh produced a very creditable figure.

Jan 1, 1950

By Bieniawski, Z. T.

The importance of understanding the phenomena associated with rock fracture has long been fully appreciated in rock mechanics. This is clearly apparent from the special attention paid to rock fracture in the comprehensive papers published within the past four years. These papers present a picture of how the knowledge of brittle fracture of rock was gradually enriched and also show that what was often taken for granted three or four years ago is no longer considered as valid today.

Jan 1, 1972

By Herbert J. French

ALLOY steels have become essential to industry in meeting the rigid requirements on materials imposed by our, advanced technology. In comparison with the total ingot capacity of the steel industry, the volume of alloy steels is relatively small although for many years annual alloy-ingot tonnage has, been in seven figures. However, the monetary value of the alloy-steel production is exceedingly high and the benefits derived from the products are relatively great. The trend in total ingot production since 1932 has been generally upward with only two major interruptions. That of the year 1938 was due to a decrease in general business activity whereas that of 1946 resulted largely from work stoppages. Traditionally, the tonnage of alloy-steel ingots produced was in the neighborhood of 5 to

Jan 1, 1948

By Oscar A. Glaeser

MINE VENTILATION is an important factor in mine maintenance as well as having direct bearing on labor efficiency. Effective ventilation systems are costly, especially those for the deeper mines, but with intelligent direction the worth of a system is usually greater than its cost. In most mines using mechanical ventilation, and practically all deep mines, it has been found beneficial to equipment, timber, and the ground, to run the fan or fans continuously even though production has been curtailed or entirely suspended. Therefore, economies in ventilation may be overlooked when general cost reductions are necessary. The operating costs of a well-designed ventilation system should be capable of reduction during periods of curtailed or suspended operations. A mine that is ventilated by splits, or that can be sectionized, can reduce its fan-power costs considerably, and provisional divisions can sometimes be made in other mines, in which the air is ordinarily coursed through all the workings, without harmful effects.

Jan 1, 1932

By AIME AIME

ON the headwaters of the Hudson Riser, in a sparsely populated area of the north woods at Tahawus, N. Y., thirty miles from the nearest railroad, is the Maclntyre property of National Lead Co. Operations involve the mining and processing of titaniferous iron ore to produce ilmenite concentrate, and magnetite concentrate containing vanadium, for use in the production of iron, titanium, and vanadium in the war program. Accordingly, Maclntyre at present is classed as a war plant. More than 3000 long tons of ore is ruined daily by opencut methods and treated in an ore concentrating plant.

Jan 1, 1943

State of Louisiana, Department of Conservation, Division of Minerals, 126 New Orleans Court bldg , New Orleans, La. Dr. J. A Shaw, Director The Bureau of Scientific Research of the Minerals Division has recently issued the first of a proposed series of Geological Bulletins on the geology of Louisiana, by parishes The bulletin may be had for 25 cents postage by writing to the above address: Geological Bulletin 1, Geology of Iberia Parish (1931) Other bulletins of a more general nature have been published in the past. Bulletin 13, A brief survey of the natural resources of Louisiana (1930) (revised 1931), 14, The clays of the Shreveport area (1927), 16, The clays of Monroe area (1928), 19, The clays of Alexandria area (1929). The latest (Tenth) Biennial Report of the Department of Conservation for 1930-1931, containing a review of the natural resources of the state in the report of the Division of Minerals, may be obtained on payment of 25 cents for postage

Jan 1, 1933

Aamot, Olav Crone, (M'29) Chem. Engr., Elektro¬kcmisk, Raadhusgt. 32, Oslo. Norway. . Aase. Glenn D., (J'40) Jr. Met., American Smelt. & Refin. Co., Selby, Calif. Abadie, Henry G., (J'43) Petr. Engrg., Avenal, Calif. Abadilla, Quirico A., (M'38) Min. Engr., Dir., Bureau of Mines, Manila, P. I. Abbott, Agatin Townsend, (J'40) Jr. Engr., Phelps Dodge Corp., Morenci Branch. Morenci. Ariz. Abbott, Clarence E., (M'04) Civ. Engr. V.P., Tennessee Coal Iron & R.R. Co., 1542. Brown Mars Bldg. Birmingham. Ala. Abel, Raymond L.. (M'23) Chem. Engr., Com¬manding Officer, Pittsburgh Chem. Warfare urement Dist., American Bank Bldg.. Pittsburgh. Pa. Abel, Walter D., (M'32) Min. Engr., Supvr. Engr.. R.F.C., Los Angeles, Calif. Abele, Louis T., (M'31) 423 3rd Ave., Decatur. Ga. Abell, Leo M.: (M'31) Mill Supt. & Met.. Em¬ peror Gold Min. Co., Ltd., Vatukoula. Fiji Islands. Abernathy, G. E., (M'38) Geol., Kansas State Geol. Survey, Pittsburg, Fan. Abernathy, Jack H., (M'40) Cons. Petr. Engr., First National Bldg.. Oklahoma City, Okla.

Jan 1, 1943

Secretary's Note.—M. Beutter's introductory remarks, being simply a resume of Prof. Hone's paper, with a disclaimer of the intention to criticise it, have been omitted, and the remainder of this contribution lias been somewhat condensed, without omitting any essential statements. M. Beutter, St. Etienne, France* (communication to the Secretary†):—Professor Home observes in $ 47 of his paper that the fluid-compression of steel diminishes piping by forcing the liquid and viscous metal, while the pipe is forming, or after it has formed, into the space so produced, and proceeds to study the different systems of compression, alluding to the four principal ones: Whitworth, Illingmorth, Williams, and Harmet. Having now for many years had in use the last-named process, that of M. Henri Harmet, I shall attempt to explain the difference between it and the three other processes named. The Harmet process does not diminish or close the pipe after it has formed, but prevents it from forming; and I may add that it is the only one of the four which produces this result. It is true that the Whitworth process diminishes the interior hollow by localizing it around the central axis of the ingot, which is afterwards removed by trepanning the hollow forg-ings for which this process has been, I believe, always exclusively used. The Illingworth and Williams processes, which, in my opinion, are applicable only to small ingots, of necessity allow the pipe to form, or (to use the expression of Professor Howe) they allow the surface of the lake of liquid steel to sink into the interior of the ingot, since they involve waiting a certain time before compression, so that (in the case of the Williams process) the ingot-mold can be opened without danger, or (in the case of the Illingworth process) so as to avoid the risk that the steel may enter the grooves produced by the removal of the distance-bars. During the time required for

Jan 1, 1908

By M. A. Grossmann

THE hardenability of most steels can be predicted within 10 to 15 per cent provided the complete chemical composition is known, including "incidental" elements; and provided the as-quenched grain size is known; and provided, finally, that the composition and heating temperatures for hardening are such as to result in austenite free from carbide particles. In method proposed herein, the steel is considered as having a base hardenability due to its carbon content alone (the hardenability of a ''pure steel" of the given carbon content, without any other elements), and this base hardenability is multiplied by a multiplying factor for each chemical element present. After multiplying all these together, the final product is the hardenability. Grain sue may be taken into account either in the base hardenability or after the multiplication. Hardenability is stated in terms of "ideal critical diameter"; namely, the diameter of bar, in inches, that will just harden all the way through (absence of un- hardened core) in an "ideal" quench, and the calculation may also be related to the Jominy test. The data bring out certain features rather clearly. For example: I. It is quite useless to attempt to predict hardenability unless all elements, including "incidentals," are known; thus an "incidental" chromium content of 0.20 per cent increases the hardenability by about 50 per cent. 2. The relative effectiveness of different alloys is sometimes unexpected; thus molybde- num when calculated in this way appears to be of the same order of effectiveness as manganese, rather than much more powerful as wouldappear to be common experience; observe that an increase from no manganese to 0.20 per cent Mn provides a multiplying factor of 1.67, and an increase from no molybdenum to 0.20 per cent Mo provides a factor of 1.63, an increase of over 60 per cent in each case. However, if to a steel containing 0.50 per cent Mn there is added " 20 points of manganese," the factor is raised from 2.65 (for 0.50 per cent Mn) to 3.35 (for 0.70 per cent Mn), or an increase of only 26 per cent. Thus the first small addition of an element has a much more powerful percentage effect than an equal further addition when some is already present, and in most cases the effect of molybdenum is considered in relation to a steel in which molybdenum is absent. 3. If two elements are equally effective, a greater hardenability will be obtained by using, for example, 0.5 per cent of each than by using 1.0 per cent of either of them alone. 4. A knowledge of the as-quenched grain size is essential for precise work, since a difference of only one grain size number (say No. 7 instead of No. 6) makes a difference of almost lo per cent in hardenability (in these units); this, however, does not apply to certain steels of high hardenability. It should be emphasized that in chromium steels (over 0.30 per cent Cr) and chrome- molybdenum and chrome-vanadium steels, undissolved carbides are likely to be present in the steel as quenched, and that in such cases the charts can indicate only a maximum possible hardenability, whereas the extent of hardening actually obtained may be much less. Thus tests on a number of chrome-molybdenum steels have indicated a degree of hardening amounting to only 50 to 65 per cent of the maximum possible, and in chromium steels from full hardening (100 per cent) down to as low as 70 per cent. On the other hand, when the amount of such elements is small (Cr under 0.30 per cent, Mo up to 0.25 per cent in the absence of Cr, and V up to 0.04 per cent), the charts provide reasonable approximations. The precise figures on the charts are suggested as tentative, subject to some modification as more data accumulate, but the fundamental concept appears to be supported by tests made on a wide variety of steels, a few of the correlations being shown in Fig. I.

Jan 1, 1942

By D. M. James, J. C. Martin

The results are presented of a study of the application of analytical methods to the solution of two-phase flow into single wells. Approximate analytical expressions for the pressure distribution in two-phase flow are found ;;; a number of conditions. The results obtained from the analytical solutions me found to be in good agreement with results obtained by finite difference techniques using a high speed digital computer. Mathematical solutions for four sets of boundary conditions are presented. All of these solutions are composed of a short-term transient plus a steady or quasi-steady state. The rates of decay of the short-lived transients are analyzed. It is found that the durations of the short-term transients may be characterized by a parameter defined as the time constant which can be determined from simple relations. It is shown also that if the outer radius is much greater than the radius of the well. the short term transients decay at rates which are proportional to the square of the exterior radius, and the rates of decay are only slightly dependent upon the radius ratio. Numerical solutions based on finite difference techniques are presented for a number of conditions. The numerical solutions are in good agreement with the predictions based on the theoretical analysis for small and moderate drawdowns. Examples involving large drawdowns indicate that the nonlinearities in the equations of flow do not appreciably alter the longevity of the short-term transients. In all cases the time required for the short-tern transients to disappear is predicted satisfactorily. INTRODUCTION The mechanism by which oil and gas flow into a single well is of vital interest to the petroleum industry. The fundamental equations of two-phase flow which describe this mechanism are nonlinear partial differential equations. Numerical solutions of these equations describing pressure transients have been obtained with the aid of electronic computers. Although solutions obtained in this manner take into account a large number of effects, the reduction of this information to useful generalities is difficult. One method of obtaining generalities is the use of linearized approximations of the nonlinear equations. Since it is possible to obtain explicit solutions of the linearized equation, general properties of the role of pressure in the flow mechanism may be ascertained. Results obtained from this approach are limited to some extent by the linearizing assumptions. The severity of these limitations may be evaluated by comparing solutions of the linear equation with numerical solutions of the more exact nonlinear equations of two-phase flow. In the past considerable amount of work has been devoted to studying pressure build-up using the single-phase flow theory. Unfortunate1y, most prep sure build-up tests involve multiphase flow. A small amount of work has been done studying pressure build-up where the flow is two-phase. The encouraging results of these studies suggest that useful results may be found from additional studies of not only pressure build-up, but also the rapid transients associated with placing a well on production. This paper presents the basic theory of the pressure transients associated with placing a well on production and with closing it in. The paper is concerned chiefly with two-phase compressible flow; however, the results also apply to single-phase flow. The results are based on analytical solutions of the flow equations, and they are verified by numerical solutions using finite difference techniques. Much of the previous work on compressible flow into wells has been confined to single-phase flow. Some work has been done on compressible two-phase steady state flow, and solutions of the equations of flow have been found by finite difference techniques using high-speed computers. Muskat1 presents some rather general solutions to the equations of single-phase compressible flow into wells. Much work has been done on pressure build-up in wells (see, for example, Refs. 2-6). Almost all of the work on pressure build-up concerns single-phase flow with the exception of Ref. 5 and part of Ref. 2. Some work has been done on pressure fall-off in injection wells.718 Muskat9 presents the solution of the equations for radial steady state two-phase compressible flow. Handyl0 extends Muskat's solution to obtain

By H. V. Flagg

OPERATION of a modern steel plant presents a curious anomaly. Large-scale operations, in which large volumes or heavy weights of materials are involved, are not usually subject to close control or narrow specifications. On the other hand, operations that call for a high degree of precision are usually carried out under carefully controlled conditions with delicate, precise machinery and tools, and production is made secondary to quality. In a modern steel mill both extremes are taken as a matter of course. A strip mill making auto-body sheets must supply its customers with sheets that all come within a tolerance of plus or minus 0.003 in. in gauge at any point from side to side or end to end, and without blemishes either of color or surface. Sheets that were considered par excellence as recently as ten years ago could not even find a market today. Such exacting requirements have made necessary a nicety of control that approaches the watchmaker's art. Notwithstanding this necessity for precision, the scale of operation is stupendous.

Jan 1, 1940

By A. C. Veatch

Jan 1, 1921